Liquid-level indicator.



Wzltmessea I R. 0. SMITH.

LIQUID LEVEL INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1911.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

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orrzeys UNITED sT TEsParENT OFFICE.

ROBERT C. SMITH, 0F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

LIQUID-LEVEL INDICATOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and use ful Improvements in Liquid LevelIndicators, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

My invention relates to liquid level indicaters and has to doparticularly with devices of that kind which is employed in automobilesin association with the gasolene tank.

The object of my invention is, first, to provide an indicator or gage,for the gaso lene. tank, which is constantly exposed to the view of theoperator even while he is driv ing the machine, To this end, I providean arrangement wherein the indicator dial is mounted in the riser of thefront seat of the automobile, the indicating hand or pointer beingconnected with a float inside the gaso.

lene tank by means of novel mechanism which will be described in detail.

The second object of my invention is to provide what I term a duplexgage, that is, a gage which includes means for indicat ing the liquidlevel in the gasolene tank at a position which can be observed by theoperator when he is driving the machine and also means for giving theindication at a position which can be kept in View during the process offilling the tank. It is quite common in the art to place the gasolenetank under the front seat of the vehicle and to provide the seat with acover which is removable to expose the tank, the seat cushions beingdisposed over this cover after it has been placed in position. ()ne ofthe indicators in the duplex gage of my invention disposed on the top ofthe tank and is exposed to view when the cushions and the seat coverhave been removed. Such removal is, of course, necessary when it isdesired to fill the tank and, as the tank is being filled, thisindicator can be watched to ascertain the rising level of the liquid.After the tank is filled, the cover and the cushions are again disposedin place and the operator may keep himself informed of the liquid level,as the gasolene is being used, by means of the other indicator which, asbefore stated, is located in theriser of the seat and which is exposedforwaiylly. In

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 11, 1911.

Patented Oct. 14, 1 913.

Serial No. 626,545.

this way, the operator may always know of the amount of gasolene in thetank, while the machine is running, and this without the necessity ofremoving the cushions and the cover of the seat. The indicator in theriser indicates the falling level of the liquid, while the machine isrunning, and the indicator on the top of the tank indicates the risinglevel of the gasolene while the tank is being filled.

My invention contemplates other improvements. v

The specific mechanism which is employed to carry out the objects aboveset forth is new and secures advantages not heretofore obtained. Iprovide improved means for supporting and for controlling the float, andthe mechanism which I employ for transmitting the movement of the floatto the indicators is peculiarly adapted to the objects above set forth.My invention is consistent with the ideas of economical construction andsimple operation, few parts being employed to eliminate the possibilityof disarrangement so far as possible and to provide for ready access inthe cases of inspection and repair.

My invention is embodied in the structure illustrated in theaccompanying drawin ,in which igure 1 is a general elevational view 0 anautomobile supplied with the device of my invention, parts being shownin section to reveal the interior construction, the gasolene tank beingthus shown in transverse section; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionalView of the gasolene tank, showing the arts of my invention ap liedthereto; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary p an view of the top of the tank,showing the indicator thereon; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational viewof the riser of the seat, showin the indicator thereon; Fig. 5 is anaxia sectional view of the riser indicator and the directly associatedparts; Fig. 6 is a plan View of the float arm and the float; and Fig. 7is an axial sectional view of a detail of construction which will bedescribed.

Like reference characters are applied to the same parts throughout thevarious fig- .provided with a walled diametrical pasthe float arm, thewire members compris ng 5 manner at the top of the riser'14. The seat Y13 is provided with an opening which is normally' closed by a cover 14,and the cushion frame 15, which carries the cushions l6, rests upon thecovered seat. The gasolene i tank is of general rectangular prismaticform and is illustrated at 17', this tank being disposed under the frontseat referred to and having its longer dimension extending transverselyof the car. The tankhas the usual outlet 18, which leads to the floatchamber of the carbureter, and the cover 18 which is held in place inany convenient manner.

The cover 18 is provided with a circular opening 19 in which asupporting frame 20 is snugly disposed, this frame having the annularflange 21 resting upon the cover as bestillustrated in Fig. 2. 'Asuitable annular'gasket 22 is disposed between the flange 21 and thecover 18, so as to secure a tight fit, and the frame is held in placesecurely by means of bolts 23, 23 passing through peripheral notches inthe flange and supplied with winged clamping nuts 24, 24. Secured to thesupporting frame 20 and extending downwardly therefrom are two supporting arms 25 and 26 which, at their lower ends, carry a shaft 27 heldagainst lateral displacement by means of collars 28, 28. Between thearms 25 and 26, a gear segment 29 is secured to the shaft 27, being setin place by means of a set screw 30. This segment is provided -with apointer 31, extending radially therefrom and secured thereto in anysuitable manner, and this pointer extends upvs ardly into the annularframe 20 so that it may operate in an are near the top of the frame. Adial 32 is mounted in a horizontal plane in the annular frame 20 on oneside thereof, and is slotted at 32 for the passage of the pointer 31..

The float arm is secured upon the shaft 27. For a purpose which I shallpoint out presently, I prefer to make this float arm of wire and, asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, this part comprises the wire 33 which is bentback upon itself in a narrow V-shape and which is secured at its ends tothe ends of the shaft 27 where they extend beyond the supporting arms.The wire may be held in place by a tight friction fit and the ends maybe split and bent over on the shaft as illustrated at 34, 34. The float.5 is preferably spherical, conveniently a, hollow ball, and is sageway3t through which the end of the float arm 33 n viy extend. Near this endof it are made substantially parallel so thati they may pass through theopening in the i float and from the point where the) leani the floatthey are made to diverge, as illuswhich the float may be passed on overit. 2

Ecovcr I5 in some sui able trated in Fig. 6, so as to limit the distanceA cotter pinil7 passes through the resulting loop extending beyond thefloat, to hold the float in place. It wilfnow be seen that with properadjustment, the movement of the float may be indicated on the dial bythe dircctly associated pointer 31, the dial being marked withsignificant characters, as illus trated in Fig. 3, to tell theliquidlevel. Since the float arm extends longitudinally of the tank and ismade quite, long compared to the distance between the axis of the shaft.27 and the end of the pointer, the considerable movement of the floatfrom the top of the tank to a point near the bottom will beproportionately reduced to the range.

of the dial 32. The glass cover 38, with a beveled edge, rests upon theannular frame 20 and a clamping ring 39, having screw-- threadedengagement with the. annular frame, engages the cover, as shown in thedrawings, to churn it in place. The as olene may he introduced into thetank either by removing the clamping ring 39 and the glass cover 338 orby removing a screw cap 40 which normally closes another opening in thetank. When it is desired to fill the tank the cushions 16 and the coverit are removed and, during the operation of fill ing, the indicatorwhich has just been de scribed is in full view so that the rise of theliquid level can he watched.

In order that the float 35 need not be heavy or large, and in order thatthe float may always properly follow the falling of the liquid level, Iprovide upon the shaft 2'7 a helical spring 1, one end of the springhaving connection with the segment 25), and consequently with the shaft,and the other end having connection with the supporting arm 26. Thetendency of this spring is to rotate the shaft in a counttar-clockwisedirection (Fig. 2) and it is so adjusted that the rising of the liquidlevel will easily overcome it. As the liquid level falls, however, thespring assists the weight of the float so that there-will be nodilliculty in overcoming the friction of the operating parts. TheV-shapc of the float arm is important in that it resists the effect ofthe side thrust of the gasolene, when the automobile is running, and thewire construction is important in that its resistance is more or lessresilient, thus reducing the. wear and tear upon the operating parts.This construction is furthci' useful in that the float may (Easily e,removed for the purposes of inspection and repair and in fuel the floatarm can is: reltifl'i ed easily and maybe withdrawn thi ongi'h theremaining opening in the frame l.

l lxlending forwardly from the uni: dar supporting frame 20, [mini d theriser of he via-d, a tube ii-1 ulW-h se ured to he manner and isillustrated at ii I. At its forward and this tube (on we meets with thecasing 44 of a second indicator dial, this casing being preferably ofthe watch case type and being set in an axially alining opening 45 inthe riser 14. A shaft 46 is mounted with a bearing fit in a boss 47extending rearwardly from the casing 44 and with a bearing fit in theframe piece 20 as indicated at 48. This arrangement provides for agasolene-tight fit. At the forward end the tube 42 is preferablychamfercd into conical form to correspond with a conical depression inthe boss 47 as indicated at 49. The shaft 46, where it extends insidethe annular frame piece 20 below the dial 32, is provided with a pinion50 rigidly secured thereto and meshing with the gear segment 29 asclearly illustrated in Fig. 2. At its forward end the shaft 46 extendsinto the casing 44, beyond the dial 53 therein, where it is providedwith an indicator hand 54 held in place thereon by means of a thumb nut55. The front of this casing is provided with the glass cover 56 held inplace by a clamping ring 57, the riser 14 being counter-sunk to providefor the proper disposition of this clamping ring. It is thus seen thatthe motion ofthe segment 29, and consequently that of the float, istransmitted by way of the pinion to the shaft 46 and thence to theindicator hand at the riser dial. This dial is marked with significantcharacters, as indicated in Fig. 4, to tell the level of the liquid. There moval of the cover 56 of the riser dial case and of the thumb nut 55permits the dial case to be removed for the purposes of inspection andrepair.

It will now be evident that the motion of the float is indicated notonly on the dial on the top of the tank but also at the dial in theriser and,that the driver of the machine can be informed of the level ofthe gasolene while he is running the machine and without removing thecushions or the cover of the seat. It is preferable that the dialindicate empty when there is still some gasolene in the tank and to thisend I adjust the float relatively to the pointer so that such indicationwill he made when the float is an inch or two from the bottom of thetank. The movement of the segment 29 is limited by means of the pin 58which extends from the supporting arm 25 and into a circular slot 59 inthe segment. The cover 14 may be provided with an opening 50 to exposethe dial on the top of the gasolene tank when the cushions are removed.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a tank, a shaft supported in said tank, a float armextending from m ld shaft, a float on said arm, a gear elmfni' on saidshaft, a pinion meshing with a l GfJYi'1e11l3, a shaft for said pinionextending beyond. the tank, a pointer on said pinion shaft, a dialassociated with said pointer, a second pointer carried by said seg ment,and an exposed dial associated with said second pointer.

2. In combination, a tank having an open ing in the top thereof, anannular fitting in said opening, supporting arms extendin downwardlyfrom said fitting, a sha t mounted in said supporting arms, a float armextending from said shaft, 2. float on said arm, a gear segment on saidshaft, a pinion meshing with said segment, a shaft for said pinionextending beyond the tank, a pointer on said pinion shaft, a dialassociated with said pointer, a second pointer carried by said segmentand extending upwardly into said fitting, a dial associated with saidsecond pointer in said fitting, and a glass top for said fitting.

3. In combination, a tank, a shaft supported in said tank, indicatingmechanism associated with said shaft, a V-shaped wire float armextending from said shaft, a hollow ball with a walled diametricalopening passed over the end of said arm, and a cotter pin holding saidball in place. I

4. In combination, a tank having an opening in the top thereof, anannular fitting in said opening, an oscillating shaft supported by saidfitting, a float arm in the form of two wires extending from said shaft,a float at the end of said wires, a dial case rigidly carried with saidfitting, and a pointer in said case mechanically connected with saidshaft.

5. In combination, an annular fitting for attachment to the top of atank having an opening, a tube secured to and extending radially fromsaid fitting, a shaft mounted in said tube, a dial case carried on theend of said tube, a pointer mounted upon said shaft in said dial case afloat arm connected with the other end of said shaft which extends intosaid fitting, and a float carried bv said float arm.

6. In combination, a fitting for attachment to the wall of a tank havingan open ing therein, an oscillating shaft supported by said fitting, afloat arm movable with said shaft, a float on said arm, a dial caserigidly carried with said fitting, and a pointer in said case rigidlyconnected with saidv shaft.

7. In combination, a fitting for attachment to the wall of a tank havingan opening therein, a dial case, a tubular member rigidly connectingsaid dial case and said fitting, an oscillating shaft journaled withinsaid tubular member, a float arm mechanically connected with said shaftat the fitting end thereof, a float on said arm, and a pointer in saidcase mechanically connected with said shaft.

8. In combination, a fitting for attachment to the wall ofa tank havingan openmember, a tloat arm mechanically connected with said shat't atthe titling end thereot', a tloat on said arm, and a pointer in saiddial case mechanically t-onnet't d with said shaft.

0. In combination, a fitting); for Zltttltiv ment. to the top of a tankhaving an opening therein, a tubular member extending laterally fromsaid fitting, an mi'illtltltlgj, shat't journaled within said member, altoat al'ln connected to said shatt. a tloat on said arm, a dial caserigidly carried on aid member, a pointer in said case mechanically coune ted with said shatt, and a pointer in said fitting mechanicallyconnected with said shaft.

10. In combination, a titling for attachmentto the wall of a tank havingan openfitting, and a pointer in said ease mechanically connected withsaid shaft.

let. in combination, an annular fitting for attachment to the wall of atank having an opening therein, an oscillating shaft supported by andextending radially from said fitting, an arm mechanically connected withsaid shaft, a tloat mechanically associated with said arm, a dial caserigidly carried with said fitting, and a pointer in said casemechanically connected with said shaft.

12. In combination, an annular fitting for attachment to the wall of atank having an opening therein, a tubular member rigidly secured to andextending radially from said titling, a dial case secured to saidmember, an oscillating shaft mounted in said tubular member, an armmechanically connected with said shaft at the fitting end thereof, afloat mechanically associated with said arm, and a pointer in said casemechanically e0n nected with said shaft.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this (3th day of May,A. 1)., 1911.

ROBERT (J. SMITH. Witnesses An'rucn ll. BOETPCHER, Aiimnrr G. MUCALEB.

